They say we may be in for a cold winter this year, and I suspect they (whoever "they" are) may be right. Here it is only early October and I have already seen a sign of winter, namely a winter seasonal beer: Winterhook Ale.

Introduced in 1995, Winterhook has a slightly higher than normal alcohol content at 5.5%. It is not a huge beer, but it does have enough flavor to make it welcome on a cold winter's evening.

Winterhook has always been one of the first winter seasonals out of the gate. Last year I first tasted it on October 26th. At the time, I took these notes: The first of the Christmas seasonals to arrive in my area, Winterhook has a nice dark color, a rich malty nose, and a very chocolatey palate, almost like a glass of ovaltine in it's chocolate/malt mix. There is a subtle hop grassiness in the finish. This year's version seems to me to actually be bolder and more flavorful than in the past few years. A wonderfully malty brew!

As it happens, I still have a bottle left almost a year later. Bottled on 10/19/1999, this particular bottle has been safely stored away under refrigeration expressly for the purpose of comparison with this year's batch. It's still remarkably chocolatey after all this time. The Ovaltine comparison was an apt one. The hop grassiness has subsided slightly, but a touch of bitterness remains.

Now for the 2000 edition. As it also happens, I was at the brewery in Portsmouth this weekend and enjoyed a pint of Winterhook. It seemed lighter than last year's version. Mahogany in color with no head formation and a light malty nose, the brew has a light-bodied malt palate that hints at chocolate. Very light bodied indeed, this may be the lightest Winterhook I have ever tasted. The chocolate intensifies in the finish and combines with a balancing to slightly bitter finish. Still a nice beer but not as robust as I was looking forward to. I'll still grab a six-pack when I see this beer in stores, however.

Update January 23, 2003: I've always said beers can certainly change from year to year, and here's a great example. The 2002 Winterhook is probably the most robust I've ever tasted, with a firm malt body and an impressive chocolate character. A hearty brew that is a welcome improvement over past years, and a great value as well.

Update January 1st, 2011: Mine was bottled on September 15th, I'm drinking on January 1st. Winterhook is a little bigger and I think better this year.  Easy drinking, quite chocolaty and a little stronger at 6% alcohol by volume this year. Redhook says they change this up a bit each year, though this is the first time I've really noticed the difference. In their words:

This year will be our 27^thconsecutive release of Winterhook.  The recipe changes slightly every winter because nobody likes getting the exact same Holiday present year after year. Redhook’s 27th brew of Winterhook has roasted chocolate notes that smooth out the quick, spicy hop finish. The rich body and nutty, malty backbone make this winter ale slighty naughty and very nice.

This is also the first year in the new and cool stubby bottles.

For my part, I do like the extra chocolate and nutty notes (does Santa keep track of who has been nutty and nice?), and the hops seem more herbal and grassy in the finish. Kudos for the $7.99 price, too.

Update December 6th, 2013: I paid a little more for my Winterhook this year, but it was worth it: this may be the best Winterhook Seasonal release from Redhook yet. This year's edition has an impressive 45 IBUs and has an alcohol content of 6% by volume. Here's what Redhook says:

Winterhook is the perfect beer to keep warm during cold months after shoveling snow, shredding some powder,  or playing hooky to can catch the game. Since it was first brewed, Redhook’s Winterhook has changed slightly each year to celebrate the season and keep everyone on their toes. After all, no one likes getting the same gift twice. The 29th version of Winterhook brewed for this year offers a rich caramel body that balances a big malt backbone with the aggressively dry hopped brew, making this year’s winter ale slightly naughty and very nice.

I say:

Winterhook 29, since 1985. They change this up every year, and this one has more hops than ever. Big resiny hops in the nose and they carry on into the chocolaty palate, then into the finish. Love the bottles too, but for me all these hops juxtaposed against the chocolaty malt of Winterhook past makes this one the best ever. Like the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future all rolled up in one!

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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